Polishing stainless steel?
 

I have a vintage car clock that has minor pitting in the SS bezel, can pitting be removed by polishing or will the pits always be visible? Can SS be chromed?

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

start with 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper, use soapy water and sand down to remove pits, then use finer sand paper until the last light sanding is with 2000 to 3000 thousand grit and then polish to a shine

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

Thanks Alan, will give it a try.

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

There should be something in the archives on this. Be sure to order the correct buffing compounds from a vendor that specializes in buffing compounds, don't go with the one type does all from the local hardware store.

Charlie Stephens

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

Charlie, got all the pads and compounds from EASTWOOD, never tried to polish anything with pits in it before.

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

Had good luck with 0000 steel wool then polish

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

If you have pits in the bezel, then you do not have stainless steel. Your bezel like most is chromed steel stamping. Stainless steel can be chrome plated. I had a 1964 Lincoln that had chromed stainless steel.

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

I'll try thee 0000 and see how that works too.

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

What Bill said, your part has to be chrome plated steel if it has pits.

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

There may be 'vintage' stainless clocks but the only type that I have seen were chrome plated brass.

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

What I do know is that I can't pick up the bezel with a magnet. I was able to remove the pits with sanding, can you remove pits from chrome by sanding?

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

Yes, but then you have to rechrome it.

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

Post a couple close up pictures . . .

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

Does brass react to a magnet like SS because I still have no reaction to the magnet but after sanding and in daylight I do see a yellow tinge to the bezel now?

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

Pits are holes and the only way to get rid of them is to lower the surrounding surface until even with the hole (same is true for scratches). Sanding and buffing both remove material to lower the surrounding surface, but if the hole is too deep eventually there is no material left to remove.

So, the answer depends on how deep the pits are.

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

If you sanded until you hit brass, I think you're not working with stainless steel. Stainless isn't used to plate things.

You may be working with chrome or nickel plate.

Oh, and neither brass nor stainless are magnetic.

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

Okay, looks like it will have to be re-chromed; figured no reaction to magnet must be SS.

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

Yes brass is not magnetic and I guess that I still haven't seen one made out of stainless.

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

Under the "more ways than one to skin a cat" files
Following up (but Less work and grits of paper required) than alanthewoodieman's post, Depending on the surface of the stainless steel, I start with 80g then 180g then 320g on my DA sander grey rouge on the first buff and white rouge on the finish buff and comes out just fine. Starting at 400g and working up to 2000 to 3000 seems like a lot of work and a lot of paper. I use no water or soap on the sandpaper and it comes out just fine!!! On SS bolts, I either file the cast marks off the head or turn them in my lathe. If I turn them and DA the heads while spinning in the lathe you almost don't have to polish them.

Re: Polishing stainless steel?
 

Remember, plating will add thickness. You may have re-assembly issues.